An application to block an unpopular housing development in Ash by turning the site into a village green has failed, leaving residents "absolutely disappointed".

The plans to convert Ash Meadows, land to the south of Ash Lodge Drive, into a village green to stop 400 homes arriving on the site have been rejected by a planning inspector following a public inquiry earlier this year – but the Ash Residents’ Association (ASHRA) is still determined to oppose the development put forward by Bewley Homes.

Graham Eyre, who applied for the village green status, said the results were "very disappointing".

At an inquiry in May, ASHRA put forward an argument focusing on proving Section 15 of the Commons Act 2006, which states that an application can be made to turn any piece of land into a green as long as a significant number of the inhabitants have taken part in ‘lawful sports and pastimes’ on the land for a period of at least 20 years.

However, inspector William Webster said he was "concerned by the credibility" of the evidence and concluded that Mr Eyre had "failed to establish on the balance of probabilities that the whole of the land has been used by a significant number of local inhabitants for qualifying lawful sports and pastimes".

Mr Eyre said: “The inspector’s main conclusion was that some of our witnesses exaggerated their use and that, in truth, the main use of the land was of the footpaths, the perimeter or just walking through the land.

“Hundreds of residents who use the land regularly will disagree with this finding, however it is the inspector’s view that counts.”

The inspector said an absence of photographs of leisure activities had not helped the case. He also referenced the wet conditions of the site, the lack of damage to crops and the lack of prohibitory signs on the land as reasons to reject the evidence of ASHRA.

“It seems to me that if there was as much ball games, kite flying and cycling on the land beyond the footpaths [then the owners] are likely to have taken steps to warn off people from using the land, which is likely to have involved prohibitory signage,” he said.

Nigel Manning, chairman of Ash Parish Council, said: “I am absolutely disappointed to be honest. I thought the number of people that had used it over the years would be sufficient to justify it.

“In terms of the housing application, that is a separate thing, but that particular field was used for such a long time by local residents.”

Mr Eyre said he would like as many people as possible to oppose Bewley Homes’ plans at an extraordinary meeting of the council on September 24, where the application will be reviewed.

“This is the last chance to let Guildford Borough Council know the strength of opinion against this proposal and if hundreds of residents turn up it will send a powerful message,” he said.

“Guildford Borough Council have advised residents that only 120 members of the public will be able to be seated in the council chambers.

“However, if the chamber was full, including standing room, and there were hundreds of people outside, this would send a powerful message. Numbers could be critical here, so the bigger the attendance the better.”